Vehicle spring-support.



J. W. KENEVEL.

VEHICLE SPRING SUPPORT-11;.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12. 1913 PatentedAug. 1915v WITNESSES To al whom 2'2, may concern:

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JEABThlUT KENEVEL, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

VEHICLE SPRING-SUPPRT.

Be it known that I, Jnanno'r W. Knnnvnfn,

ted a certain new and'useful Improve- .in Vehicle Spring-Supports, of which allowing is a true exact descrip- I tioii, reference being had to the accompanysecti anal plan on ing drawings which form a part thereof.

\ "My present invention consists in a novel spring supporting arrangcment for vehicles, such; as automobiles andmotor trucks, "devised With-the prin'mry object in view of providi11g a simple, eflective and relatively inexpensive construction for the purpose specified; and with. the further object in view of permitting an easy and ready adjust'ment of the spring supporting means to thereby vary the ten us of the spr ngs when desirable, as, in

r 1 sta ce, on changes in tne weight or the load he the case, for 111" ied. by the vehicle.

- The varioiisi features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularit in the claims annexed to forming a part of this specilication. For a hetter unde'rstanding of the inventieii, i however. pf the advantages possessed the accent 'ence sliouh. halit do Jvings I have illustr' ion may i);

"matter in or n in which gear "ion;

i an v y r the line of Fig. 2. v in the drawings .i' represents POTDIDDSOf As shown, the parts A are side frame members such as are commonly employed inautomo:

I biles.

- B represents the i'ear axle, and C the front axle 'and Dthe wheels of the vehicle.

Each axle is'provided' at each end with an lurgement or, cross head G, formed at two opposite sides with ribs G working in guide brackets F. .Each pair of hrackets F is se cured to the corresponding frame member A Specification of Letters Patent.

s ments filed May 1a 1912. Serial No. 766,925.

as rivets F Each bracket F mayadvantageously be connected at its lower end to the lower end of the other bracket. of the pair or by the plate F andbolts F Each. cross head axle portion Gr maybe formed Patented-Aug. 3, .1915.

integrally with the axle proper towliichit each lever member H, is pivotally connected as'by the pin H to a bolt J which passes upward through the corresponding side frame member A and through a helical spring-Kthelower end of which bears against a washer or spring support. L resting on the frame member A, While the upper end of the spring bears against a washer L which isengaged at its upper side by a nut J" threaded .on the upper end of the bolt J. Provisions are made for a fulcrum bearing against the corresponding frame memher A, of each lever H at some point between theends of the latter. The provisions for this purpose in the form shown in the cars H formed for the purpose on one end of the corresponding lever H, and the shaft M has a collar M received between the ears 1H? and preventing movement of the shaft M in the direction of its length relative to the lever H. The shaft M is shown as having a squared end M to which a wrench may be applied to rotate the shaft.

M represents a lock nut by which theshaft M may be locked against rotation.

With the arrangement described the shaft M forms a simple and efiective device for securing the corresponding fulcrum block I to its lever H in any desired relative adjustment, and for moving the fulcrum block i along the lever when a different adjustment is desired':

With the arrangement described itwill be apparent that the resilient .portionsof the connections by which the vehicle body is supported from the axles are the helical springs K which are inherently inexpensive in type and size; and the springs for an ordinary automobile may Well be small enough and light enough, to make it entirely feasible to carry one or more springs beneath one of the seats of the automobile. The ready adjustability of the fulcrum blocks I along the levers H on which they are mounted makes it entirely feasible to adjust one or more of these blocks and thereby vary the tensions of the corresponding springs K, whenever changes in the loading or the conditions of the road may make these desirable; for instance, in the case of an ordinary automobile, it may well be de sirable and entirely feasible to change the adjustment of the blocks I when the number or weight of passengers carried changes.

Advantageously, I may employ in conjunction with the spring supporting mechanism proper suitable shock absorbing devices.' For instance, I may connect each end of each side frame A to a suitable shock absorbing device attached to the corresponding axle end. For this purpose, in the particular construction illustrated, I secure a bracket 0 to the side of each axle cross head part G opposite to that from which the ear G projects. The bracket 0 is formed with a spherical seat 0' for the correspondingly permit the slow leakage through the piston of air or oil, and a spring T may well be mounted in the cylinder to oppose the upward movement and hasten the downward movement of the piston. The stem S of the piston S is connected by a swivel connection U of common formto the end of the frame.

With the spring support and shock absorbing arrangement described all desirable resiliency in the supporting means is attained, while at the same time any side swaying movement of the vehicle body relative to the running gear is restricted as is desirable. The character of the spring support provided makes it possible to dispense with pneumatic tires in many cases where they would otherwise be necessary, and when these tires are retained permits of the tires being inflated to higher pressures than would otherwise be permissible. This is of 05 advantage both directly with respect to the vention may be used without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to ters Patent, is:'-

1. In a vehicle, the combination with the body frame thereof and a supporting axle, of guidescarried by said frame in which secure by Letsaid axle is mounted, said guides permitting vertical but preventing endwise movement of said axle relative to said frame, a lever.

having an adjustable fulcrum bearing between its ends against said frame and pivoted at one end to said axle, and a spring connecting the other end of said lever to said frame.

2. In a vehicle, the combination with the body frame thereof and a supportingafaxle, of guides carried by said frame in which said axle is mounted, said guides permitting vertical but preventing endwise movement of said axle relative to said frame, a lever pivoted at one end to said axle, a spring by which the other end of said lever is connected to said frame, a fulcrum member interposed between said frame and said lever and means for securing said member in adjusted positions along the length of said lever.

3. In a vehicle, the combination with the body frame thereof and a supporting axle, of guides carried by said frame in which said axle is mounted, said guides permitting vertical but preventing endwise movement of said axle relative to said frame, a lever pivoted at one end to said axle, a spring by which the other end of said lever is eonnected to said frame, a fulcrum member interposed between said frame and said lever, means for securing said member in adjusted positions along the length of said lever, and

a fulcrum member interposed between each lever and the frame and the lever.

5. In a vehicle, 5 more supporting cent each end with adjustable along the combination of one or axles provided each adjaa cross head portion, a

are vertically movab 1Q 'endwise movement,

' head portion p1vota le, but are held against a lever for each cross lly attached thereto at one end and a spring for and connecting the opposite end of each lever to the frame, a fulcrum member interposed between each lever and the frame and adjustable along 15 the lever, and a shock absorbing device connected between each cross'head portion and the frame.

JEANNOT w. KENEVEL.

Witnesses:

ARNOLD KA'rz, D. STEWART. 

